Kyle Rote

Bio

The great Southern Methodist back Doak Walker, winner of the Heisman Award the previous season, was injured. His replacement that day was Kyle Rote. No one would give the Mustangs much chance against undefeated Notre Dame that December afternoon in 1949. After all, in four years the Irish had rolled up a 35-0-2 record. They were supposedly invincible. Notre Dame won that day, too - scoring in the final minutes for a 27-20 decision. But in a brilliant performance, Rote ran for 115 yards, passed for another 146, scored all three SMU touchdowns and averaged 48 yards punting. The Touchdown Club of Washington, D. C., gave Rote an award for having the best single-game performance of the year. He scored 12 touchdowns in 1949, 13 in 1950. In 1950 he was consensus All-America, second in the Heisman vote, had his picture on the cover of Life Magazine, rushed for 762 yards, and passed for 490. SMU in his time was 9-1-1 in 1948, 5-4-1 in 1949, 6-4 in 1950. At Southern Methodist he played on the baseball team and was president of Canterbury, a center for Episcopal students. He played minor league baseball in the summer of 1951, then joined the New York Giants in the National Football League. He was with the Giants 1951-61, was team captain, made Pro Bowl four times. Then he want into broadcasting in New York and on NBC-TV.

Career Highlights

• 1950 All-Conference
• 1950 Consensus All-America
• 1950 Heisman - Second
• 1949 All-Conference